It would provide the community with a full size multi-use pitch
suitable for hockey, recreational football, tennis and
netball.
South Somerset District Council has secured a total of £593,000
for the pitch, including £117,000 from the England Hockey Board and
£476,000 from Barratt Homes - who developed the recent Wyndham Park
development off Lyde Road.
The district council planned the project in 2007 in order to
address a shortage of artificial grass pitches in Yeovil and South
Somerset, and has set aside funds of up to £224,000.
Thanks to the England Hockey Board funding, the pitch will
provide a new home for Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club, giving
them a platform to further develop hockey in the community and
support their senior sides.
During the daytime the facility will be available for use by
Yeovil College and other local schools, whilst also being available
for football, tennis and netball. It will also be bookable by
community users.
Subject to planning permission, the proposed location is next to
the Athletics Arena at the council-owned Yeovil Recreation Centre -
alongside the existing football pitches, pitch and putt course,
flagship play area, changing rooms and refreshments
kiosk.
"Yeovil and South Somerset has a shortage of hockey and
artificial grass pitch provision, so we are very pleased to have
gained this external funding," said Steve Joel, Assistant Director
for Health and Well-Being at the district council.
The district council has been working with Yeovil and Sherborne
Hockey Club, which would base itself at the new pitch. Keith
Walters, Chairman, said, "This has been a long process and as
Chairman of the hockey club I can say this is genuinely fantastic
news and, if the next process goes through, it would have huge
benefits. We are delighted.
"For the last nine years our club has been playing in Dorset
because there hasn't been anywhere suitable in Yeovil, so it means
we can bring the club back to South Somerset once again and we can
get more community schools involved with the club.
"It will also mean the club is closer to the college again.
Clearly the England Hockey Board has recognised that investment is
critical in South Somerset for hockey to continue and to grow, and
that is great. "
Alex Teasdale, National Manager of Clubs and Facilities at the
England Hockey Board added, "We are delighted to be investing in
the facilities at Yeovil. Our capital funding assessment process
has been a really tough for applicants and Yeovil has done well to
secure not only funds from ourselves, but also to secure the total
funding needed.
"We look forward to seeing Yeovil and Sherborne Hockey Club
returning to the South Somerset, and the pitch being fully utilised
for grassroots hockey development. With an exciting season ahead,
and increased interest in hockey as a result of London 2012, we
hope to see many newcomers join in at the new facility."
The proposals will include a small warm up area, a range of
landscaping enhancements, and a new CCTV system to oversee all
facilities and improve security at the site.
A detailed design will be prepared and a planning application
will be submitted later this autumn, which will be open to public
viewing and comment.
More information is on the Artificial Grass
Pitch page in the Sport and Health part of our
website.
Issued:10 August 2011